CTC National Council

CTC Council is the body elected by you, the members, to take CTC forward and ensure that what we do benefits cycling.

Chairman of Council, David Cox said, “It is very important that Council represents the full diversity of CTC membership and demonstrates the range of skills needed to direct an important voluntary organisation with a significant budget and range of services and commitments. It would be good to see more women joining Council and also some younger people. Most councillors are of course keen cyclists and involved with local groups and campaigning but good governance means that we also need expertise in project management, business, the professions, charities and the voluntary sector. Many of you could make a distinctive contribution to the CTC nationally and I would urge you to think about standing for Council to ensure democratic engagement in the future direction of the Club and the Trust.”

Background to standing for Council in the Northern Ireland and Rest of the World Region is set out at the bottom of this page.

CTC National Council is the governing body of the organisation, elected on a regional basis by CTC members. For more about who the councillors are, what they do or how to get involved see below. An extended guide for new candidates can be downloaded here. Posts on CTC National Council are filled on a regional basis. Members are elected to represent each region for three years with one third of Council being due for election each year.

If you are interested in standing for Council have a look at the CTC web site or talk to an existing councillor or the Chief Executive at National Office if you want to know what is involved. You could also come along to a Council meeting to see how Council works in practice (telephone Sue Cherry at National Office if you are interested). Council very much wants to ensure that it is representative of all CTC members, and needs to have a balance of skills amongst its members, so the likelihood is that you could be just right for Council!

Non UK resident candidates
Election to CTC Council for the electoral division “Northern Ireland and all other overseas areas outside the United Kingdom”

Since circulating a recent email about elections to this division for the period 2011-2013 we have had a number of enquiries about the eligibility and practicality of members standing for election from outside the UK.

This note is just to confirm the answers to the main points raised and to invite members to nominate suitable candidates for office.

Why are non-UK residents in the Northern Ireland Division?

All full CTC members are entitled to vote in CTC elections and to be represented by a Councillor. Northern Ireland has the smallest number of resident CTC members of our 12 Divisions and so overseas members were allocated to this Division to partly balance the numbers.

Residence of a Councillor

CTC Councillors are the directors of a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England.

The residence of a person applying to be a company director is not usually significant. A director of a UK company can be a non UK resident and live anywhere in the world and there is no requirement for them to live in the UK during or after their appointment as company director. In the recent past this Division was represented by a resident of the Republic of Ireland.

One of the few exemptions to this rule would be for example, where the person has a visa or work permit for the UK or their country of residence which prevents them from being a UK company director.

There is also no requirement for a proposed director to have visited the UK at any point in the past. In short, a person living for example, in Germany who has never been to the UK can be a director of a UK company.

However CTC’s current standing orders for conduct of Council business do not allow for electronic participation in meetings so there is an expectation of personal attendance. The Standing Orders can be changed by majority agreement of Council so this rule could be reviewed, but candidates cannot presume that it will be at this time.

It is for members voting in an election to determine whether a candidate can adequately represent them, there is nothing in the rules to prevent candidacy on the grounds of location.
Will expenses be paid for non-UK residents to attend meetings?

CTC provides Out of Pocket Expenses for its Councillors who must be able to carry out their reasonable duties.

A candidate should not be disadvantaged by giving their time to the organisation on a voluntary basis.

Candidates may want to explain how they intend to provide “value for money” to members in an election address if they expect to incur significant cost in carrying out their role but there is nothing in our rules to restrict candidacy on the basis of cost.

How can I get 5 signatures on a form if I am not part of the UK member group structure?

One of the purposes of having a minimum number of signatures is to ensure that candidates do have contact with some CTC members who support their candidacy.

Many members throughout the UK are not active in our member groups but still manage to draw together the requisite signatures by making contact through other networks. They may also contact the secretary of a local group and ask for help. The secretary of CTC Northern Ireland is william@ctc-ni.com (William Montgomery).

Under our data protection policies we can not issue member lists to potential candidates.

Candidates will have to send a copy of their completed nomination form to potential supporters who must print and sign it before sending it to CTC national office in Guildford. Not all the signatures have to be on one form, but all must arrive by the closing date.

Working for the CTC in a voluntary capacity as a Councillor can be immensely rewarding when the Councillor is able to carry through, by working with others, results that are clearly good for the CTC, good for cycling and good for the well being of the nation.

CTC National Council meets four times a year January, April, July and October. CTC Members are welcome to attend these meetings as observers. All you need to do is let Sue Cherry know on 01483 238302 so catering arrangements can be made.